MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
139 
he sent it to pay for any thing the people had spoiled, and meant 
to do us right all the sattie ; it would break his heart if the King 
of England heard he had used his officers ill, and if I liked him, I 
must settle the palaver easy. 
Of course I would not hear of any heads being cut off, though 
they all pressed it repeatedly, and doubtless would not have 
regarded sacrificing a few inferior captains to varnish their allega- 
tion ; yet, I must declare, it is my firm opinion, and it is supported 
by the evidence of our private friends, that the King and his prin- 
cipal men merely intended Aboidwee to stop us, by placing his 
numbers before us and pleading the King's orders, not dreaming , 
of any outrage, or that the impetuosity of this man, irritated by 
the loss of his retainer at Cape Coast,* would hurry him to order 
his soldiers to assault us : he has not an atom of influence ; but the 
King selected him as a near relative of his own, to succeed to 
Bakkee's stool, to w^hich 1700 men are attached : the King re- 
peatedly offered me his head. To resume, the King requested us 
to drink with him, and then to shake hands, begged us to resume 
our uniforms, and ordered his own people to attend us at our 
hoiise. I renewed the subject of our departure. The King said 
this was a bad week, and he did not like us to go in it, he would 
thank me very much to stay till Monday, and then he could get a 
proper present ready. Sunday too was the Adai custom, and then 
I must put Mr. Hutchison's hand in Adoocee's, and Adoocee place 
it in his, and he would promise to take proper care of him before ' 
all the captains. Odumata and Adoocee came forward to give me 
their hands, as a pledge of their responsibility. I said I could 
receive no one's hand but the King's on such an occasion, but I 
ordered Quashie Apaintree to do so, and it was sworn to. The 
King then said Adoocee had told him the Cape Coast messengers 
* The man who hung himself. 
